US20050272561A1 - Electronic data gathering and processing for fitness machines - Google Patents

Abstract

Fitness machines with attached machine parameter sensors send machine parameter data over a local area network to a computer where the sensed data is stored and processed. The processed data is made available to a user to show machine adjustments made in previous workouts, the number of repetitions made as well as other exercise or health related parameters. Other data which can be entered into the computer includes, for example, a user's body dimensions, if any soreness was felt during or immediately after a workout and data from body monitors worn during the workout to monitor, for example, heart rate. The computer can have data on different exercise regimes and application data for suggesting a workout regime for a particular user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• This invention relates to fitness machines and, more specifically, to electronic data gathering and processing for fitness machines.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• Currently a minority of fitness machines being used provide exercise data that is available for use with a data processing machine such as a computer, and this data is limited to a few machine parameters of the fitness machines. Furthermore, this data is not stored and thus there are many machine parameters of fitness machines which are not readily available to a user, or, in the case of electronic based fitness machines, are only available until the workout is complete at which time the data is lost. A few basic machine parameter, for example, are the seat position adjustment, weight used, repetitions completed, or in the case of electronic based fitness equipment, distance traveled, calories burned, etc. Some other parameters associated with using fitness machines are a knowledge of what a user's fitness goals are (e.g., muscle tone, weight loss, stamina, a muscular body), the user's individual physical parameters (e.g., weight, muscle strength), historical workout data and data showing progress toward a user's goals.
• Therefore, it can be appreciated that system which facilitates using existing or new fitness machines used in conjunction with a computer system which stores these and other machine parameters of the fitness machine from previous workouts by a particular user, which has algorithms in the computer for generating an appropriate selection and use of fitness machines, which uses a local area network to couple the computer to the individual fitness machines and which makes available summaries of the machine parameters of the fitness machines at previous workouts so that progress towards selected fitness goals can be monitored locally or remotely is highly desirable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In one aspect the present invention generally provides a system for monitoring exercise which includes a fitness machine with a sensor mounted on the machine for sensing a machine parameter of the fitness machine. The sensed parameter is converted to digital data and passed over a local area network which receives and processes the digital data.
• In a further aspect the present invention generally provides a method for monitoring an exercise machine including converting a parameter of the machine into digital data and transferring the data over a local area network to a computer.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
• It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to store predetermined machine parameter data for a particular user on a computer associated with a fitness machine.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide algorithms stored in the computer for generating appropriate selection and use of fitness machines for a particular user.
• A further object of the present invention is to provide a local area network coupling the computer to the individual fitness machines.
• An even further object of the present invention is to make available summaries of the machine parameters at previous workouts so that progress towards selected fitness goals can be monitored.
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide to a user the ability to monitor certain body parameters during exercise such as heart rate and blood pressure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
• The aforementioned and other features, characteristics, advantages, and the invention in general will be better understood from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
• FIG. 1A is a local area network diagram of the present invention suitable for use in a home environment;
• FIG. 1B is a variation of the local area network diagram ofFIG. 1A;
• FIG. 1C is the local area network ofFIG. 1A with the direct connections of the local area network replaced by wireless connections;
• FIG. 1D is another variation of the local area network diagram ofFIG. 1A;
• FIG. 2 is a is a local area network diagram of the present invention suitable for use in a health club environment;
• FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a fitness machine that has sensors to provide information to the local area network ofFIGS. 1A, 1B,1C,1D and2;
• FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a simplified version of the fitness machine ofFIG. 3A;
• FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a rower that provides information to the local area network ofFIGS. 1A, 1B,1C,1D and2;
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a position sensor that may be used in the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a weight stack with weight position sensors that may be used with the present invention; and
• FIG. 6 is a large area network diagram showing connections between remote fitness machines and other computers using the present invention.
• It will be appreciated that for purposes of clarity and where deemed appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding features, and that the various elements in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to better show the features of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Turning now to the drawings,FIG. 1A is a local area network diagram of an electronic data gathering and processing system of the present invention suitable for use with fitness machines, particularly in a home environment, generally designated as10.Fitness machines12 and14, each havingsensors16 and18, respectively, can be of various types such as leg presses, stationary bicycles and leg extension machines. Thefitness machines12 and14, when originally manufactured, did not have data ports.
• Athird fitness machine22 has adata port24, which transfers data through acable26 to adata interface module28 over a local area network which connects together the various blocks ofFIG. 1A. InFIG. 1A the data at thedata port24 does not have a format compatible with thecomputer interface module20. For example, the data format used in one embodiment of the present invention is the Ethernet format, and the data format of thefitness machine22 inFIG. 1A is an incompatible format. Thedata interface module28 converts the format of the data transferred through thedata port24 into a format compatible with thecomputer interface module20 and, if thefitness machine22 is configured to receive data, the data received from thecomputer interface module20 is converted into the format of thefitness machine22. In addition to the data transferred through thedata port24,additional sensors30, likesensors16 and18, could be installed on thefitness machine22. The data transferred between thesensors30 and thecomputer interface module20 could be transferred between thedata interface module28 and thefitness machine22 via aconnection32, where the data transferred between thedata port24 is combined with the data transferred between thesensors30 and thedata interface module28. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 1B, data could be transferred directly between thesensor30 and thecomputer interface module20 on acable34.
• Returning toFIG. 1A, additional fitness machines, in additional tofitness machines12,14 and22, could be added as indicated by the down arrow inFIG. 1A each having a connection on one of thecables36 to thecomputer interface module20.
• It will be understood by those skilled in the art that thesensors16 and18 can be added after the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ships the fitness machine from its factory, and it is also within the scope of the present invention that all of the sensors described herein could be installed by the fitness machine OEM.
• Also shown inFIG. 1A is abody measurement device38 for measuring physical parameters of a user which can be, for example, a scales, body dimension measurement tools or a device to determine the per cent body fat of a user.Sensors40 associated with thebody measurement device38 capture this data and provides it to thecomputer interface module20 through adirect connection cable42.
• In addition to thebody measurement device38, there is also abody monitor44 for monitoring certain body parameters when a user is exercising. Such body parameters could be, for example, heart rate and blood pressure.Sensors46 associated with the body monitor44 captures this data and provides it to thecomputer interface module20 through acable48. In another example, the body monitor44 could consist of attachments for measuring the EKG of a user along with an adapter to transmit the EKG data to thecomputer50 via thecomputer interface module20. Furthermore, thecomputer50 could, in turn, pass such data in real time or at a later time to an automated EKG analysis system186 (shown inFIG. 6) located remote from the electronic data gathering andprocessing system10.
• Thecomputer interface module20 transfers data between itself and theindividual fitness machines12,14 and22, thebody measurement device38 and thebody monitor44.Cables52,54,58,42 and48 connectfitness machines12,14 and22, thebody measurement device38, and thebody monitor44, respectively, to thecomputer interface module20.
• Thecomputer interface module20 is connected via acable58 to thecomputer50 which, in turn, is connected to aprinter60.
• FIG. 1C uses a wireless connection instead of the direct connections ofFIG. 1A in whichantennas62, along with their respective transceivers, communicate with anantenna64, along with its respective transceiver, attached to thecomputer interface module20, andcables34,42,48,52,54 and56 are eliminated.
• FIG. 1D is a modification ofFIG. 1A in which the data connections from thesensors16 and thedata interface module28 are routed to thesensors18 instead of directly to thecomputer interface module20 in order to minimize the cabling required for the wired connections to thefitness machines12,18 and22.Sensors18 combine the data fromsensors16,data interface module28 and its own data to communicate this data to or from thecomputer interface module20 oncable54. In a similar manner thedata interface module28 connects with the sensors from the additional fitness machines, with connections from each of the additional sensors connected in a daisy chain manner.
• In operation thesensors including sensors16,18 and30 are usually attached to a fitness machine as described in more detail below. The data transferred to and/or from thesensors16,18 and30 can be encoded using any of the well known communication protocols such as the Ethernet protocol.
• These signals are routed to and/or received from thecomputer interface module20, which multiplexes the signals (if, for example, two people are using fitness machines at the same time) and sends the multiplexed signal to thecomputer50.
• In the preferred embodiment of the invention the communication paths are all bidirectional for reasons discussed below. However, for less complicated systems, such as may be used in a home, one way communication paths may be appropriate which would lower the cost of thesystem10.
• Thecomputer50 stores the data it receives from thecomputer interface module20 and from the keyboard of thecomputer50 and runs various applications that manipulate the received data according to computer algorithms which may also use information from a source such as aremote processing center186. Such applications may simply store the data or may use more complicated applications such as the following:
• (1) Applications which provide a selection of training regimes for a user with information about each of the regimes;
• (2) Applications which provide daily workout exercises which vary so that the exercise session isn't routine, but which is selected to fit the needs of a particular user at a particular point in his or her training; and
• (3) Applications which provide instructions on the setup of the selected fitness machines by, for example, printing such instructions on theprinter60.
• FIG. 2 is the electronic data gathering andprocessing system10 ofFIG. 1A which is modified for a health club, generally designated as70. InFIG. 2 two computers are connected to the local area network, an administrator'scomputer50 with the attachedprinter60, and a user'scomputer72 connected to thecomputer interface module20 through adata cable74. Thefitness machines12,14 and22 have attached to them card readers76 for the users to identify themselves when they are using a particular machine. Thebody measurement device38 and the body monitor44 havecard readers78 and79, respectively, associated with them, and the twocomputers50 and72 have associatedcard readers80 and82, respectively. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention computer50 can only be accessed by someone with a administrator's card, whilecomputer72 can be used by anyone with a user's card.
• The electronic data gathering andprocessing system70 operates in the same manner asFIG. 1A except that the user of each of thefitness machines12,14 and22 or the user of thebody measurement device38 is identified by thecard readers74 and78. In addition the users can manually enter data at the keyboard of thecomputer72 after registering using thecard reader82. The variations ofFIGS. 1B, 1C and1D are also applicable toFIG. 2.
• FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a leg press which includes sensors according to the present invention and can be one of the fitness machines ofFIGS. 1A, 1B,1C,1D and2. Theleg press90 has a seat92, afoot plate94, aweight stack96 and various pulleys and cables for connecting thefoot plate94 to theweight stack96. Theleg press90 also has aninteractive display98 consisting of avisual display100 for receiving visual information from thecomputer50, akeypad102 and aspeaker104. Theinteractive display98 also has aUSB port105 for receiving data from and/or sending data to aUSB memory stick107 that can be plugged into theport105. Below theinteractive display98 is acard reader106 which has aLED108 mounted on it. Anadjustment position sensor110 is connected to asupport member111 receiving a portion of the seat assembly, and arotation sensor112 for sensing the amount of rotation thefoot plate94 has with respect to the frame of theleg press90.
• In operation theinteractive display98 accepts information manually entered on thekeypad102 and provides information to the user on thedisplay100. Information can also be communicated to the user using thespeaker104. For example, the user could use thekeypad102 to ask thecomputer50 and/or theUSB memory stick107 for certain information such as, for example, the machine parameters from the last workout (e.g., seat position, amount of weight, number of repetitions per set and the number of sets). Thecomputer50 or theUSB memory stick107 would then provide this information to the user via thedisplay100. Also, thespeaker104 could provide beeps to provide a cadence for the user when exercising. Moreover, thecomputer50 or theUSB memory stick107 could ask, using thedisplay100, a series of questions which would be answered by the user using thekeypad102, about the machine parameters not directly sensed in order to have a complete set of parameters available when the user again uses theleg press90. Thedisplay98 could be used to show video of the proper settings and use of theleg press90.
• Thecard reader106 would be used to identify the user with theLED108 providing a confirmation that the user has been recognized. Theadjustment position sensor110 senses the seat adjustment position with regard to thefoot plate94 as described below in more detail with respect toFIG. 5.
• During the use of the machine thefoot plate94 moves back and forth and thereby changes the angle of the connectingmember114 with respect to the frame of theleg press90. This angle is measured with therotation sensor112 to thereby provide the motion of thefoot plate94 to thecomputer50 during the workout to capture the range of motion and the time of each cycle of thefoot plate94. Thedisplay100 and/or thespeaker104 could provide feedback to the user during the exercise as to where to stop thefoot plate94 during the exertion phase, where to stop thefoot plate94 during the relaxation phase, to indicate to the user the cadence (the amount of time to spend on each of the exertion and relaxation phases) and the rest time between each set.Wires116 provide power to the sensors and a cable for transferring data between thefoot press90 and thecomputer interface module20.
• The data sensed by the sensors, such as therotation sensor112, during the workout could be stored directly in thememory stick107, or thememory stick107 could be updated after the workout from thecomputer50 using the USB port on thecomputer50.
• FIG. 3B is a prospective view of an alternate leg press117 that is a simplified version ofFIG. 3A. In one form of this simplified version only thecard reader106 would be used to identify a user. TheLED108 could be present to indicate to the user that the card has been read and that his or her identity has been confirmed. The user would manually adjust the leg press117, including the weights, and thecomputer50 would receive and store the data from the sensors during the workout.
• Instead of thecard reader106, thedisplay98 with thevisual display100 andkeypad102 could be used for registering the user using a password. In this embodiment thevisual display100 could be simply one or more LEDs to indicate to the user that his or her password has been accepted.
• FIG. 3C is a perspective view of arower118 having avisual display119 attached to therower118 at the factory. The information shown on thevisual display119 would be transmitted over thewire121 to thecomputer50 using either a modification to thevisual display119 to provide the data on thewire121, or using the data from thedata port24 on thevisual display119 installed by the manufacturer.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of aweight stack120 and its supportingframe122, designated generally as124. Theweight stack120 consists of14 separate weights, each having a hole there through126 for connecting each weight to acentral shaft128 with apin130. Thecentral shaft128 is attached to acable132 which is connected to a movable element in a fitness machine which is moved when the machine is being used.Guide rods134 keep the weights in line. The elements described above with respect toFIG. 4 are well known in the art. A plurality ofbar codes136, twobar code readers138 and140, anencoder box142 andcables144 are used in conjunction with the present invention.
• In operation the twobar code readers138 and140 read thebar codes136 on the weights and provide this information through theencoder box142 and out one of thecables144 to thecomputer interface module20 and then to thecomputer50, with the second cable used to provide power to theencoder box142 and thebar code readers138 and140. When some of the weights are moving up and down, thebar code readers138 and140 detect thebar code136 on whatever weights are moving. This data is used in thecomputer50 to determine how much weight has been selected by the user, and can also be used to detect the end points of the exertion phase and the relaxation phase and to detect the user's speed of motion.
• The bar code readers, such as thebar code readers138 and140 may vary in number and placement depending on theparticular weight stack120. The number and placement of the bar code readers is chosen such that the bar code readers are able to detect which individual weights have been selected for an exercise. The top bar code reader is positioned to read the bar code of the top weight when the weight is at rest. The minimum amount of travel of thecentral shaft128 needs to be determined based on the range of movement of thecentral shaft128 during normal operation of the fitness machine using theweight stack120. After the minimum amount of travel has been determined, the placement of the next lower bar code reader is set by placing the bar code reader opposite the weight that is just below the weight that the top bar code reader reads when thecentral shaft128 has moved the minimum amount of travel. In the same manner additional bar code readers are positioned until the bottom weight's bar code can be read when thecentral shaft128 has moved the minimum distance.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adjustment device for adjusting the relative position of an innerrectangular box member150 with respect to an outerrectangular box member152, together with alocking pin154 andknob156 and abar card reader158 for readingbar codes160 and162, generally designated as164. A barcode reader module166 is mounted at an acute angle with respect to the long axis of the inner and outerrectangular members150 and152. The barcard reader module166 projects abeam168 onto thebar code160 and detects the reflection from thebar code160 to read thebar code160. As can be seen inFIG. 5 a series ofholes170 are present in theinner member150 for locking theinner member150 with respect to theouter member152 using thepin154.
• In operation once the position of theinner member150 is secured with respect to theouter member152 and locked in place with thepin154, thebar code reader158 reads thebar code160 immediately under theadjustment hole170 of theinner member150 which holds thelocking pin156. The bar code number is transferred over the local area network to thecomputer50 where it is recorded as the particular adjustment position for a particular fitness machine for a particular user. The information is then made available to the user so that the same adjustment position can be used, if desired, the next time the user uses such fitness machine.
• A variation of the assembly164 ofFIG. 5 would be to mount the barcode reader module166 perpendicular to the long axis of the inner andouter members150 and152 provided that theinner member150 is long enough for the required extra bar codes below the bottom hole of the adjustment holes170 which would need to be placed at the same height intervals as the upper twobar codes162.
• FIG. 6 is a large area network diagram, generally designated as180, showing connections between remote fitness machines which are using the present invention. The diagram180 shows a group of electronic data gathering andprocessing systems182 which are connected to a switch orrouter184 of a large area network. The large area network in the preferred embodiment of the invention is the internet withswitch184 representing a plurality of switches and/or routers. Each of thesystems182 can communicate to theother systems182 through the large area network which includes theswitch184. Using this large area networking a user in a remote health club could connect with his home health club and get information stored in thecomputer50 at his home health club or at his or her home computer for use in the remote health club. Aremote processing center186 for performing complicated or proprietary processing of a user's data could also be connected to thelarge area network182. In addition a user'shome computer188 could be connected to thelarge area network182 so that users could review their personal data at home, and could also peruse different types of training regimes away from the health club.
• With regard to the location and ownership of the software used in the present invention, a number of alternatives are available. For purposes of this analysis, the software will be considered to consist of three segments. The first segment is the software to transfer the data from the sensors, such assensors16 shown inFIG. 1A to thecomputer50. The second segment is the software to store the data. The third segment is software to arrange the data into a form convenient for a user to read, and optionally, to analyze the data and to provide to various training regimes for the user's selection. For the first two segments, the software resides in the home or health club facility and usually would be licensed for use in the home or health club facility. The third segment could also reside in the home or health club facility, or could reside in a remote location as shown inFIG. 6. Such a location could be a URL on the internet. The owner of the URL location could then develop the software and thereby own the software, or the software could be licensed to URL by a another company who would then own the software.
• Although the invention has been described in part by making detailed reference to a certain specific embodiment, such detail is intended to be, and will be understood to be, instructional rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many variations may be made on the structure and mode of operation without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the teachings contained herein.

Claims (20)

1. A system for monitoring exercise comprising:

a) a fitness machine for use by a user;

b) a sensor mounted on said fitness machine for sensing an machine parameter of said fitness machine and for converting said sensed parameter into digital data;

c) a local area network for transferring said digital data to a first computing device which receives and processes said digital data.

2. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, further including an output device in the area of said fitness machine for providing information over said local area network to said user.

3. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 2, wherein said output device is a visual display.

4. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, further including an input device in the area of said fitness machine whereby said user can identify one of himself and herself over said local area network.

5. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, further including a body measurement device whereby data about a user's physical parameters can be sensed, converted to digital data and transferred over said local area network to said first computer.

6. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, further including a body monitor for monitoring, during exercise, said user's body parameters which may change when said user is using said fitness machine, converting said body parameters into digital data and transmitting said digital data to said first computer over said local area network.

7. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, further including a second computer coupled to said local area network for viewing data stored in said first computer and for entering data at said second computer which is then sent over said local area network to said first computer.

8. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, further including a large area network connectable to said first computer for transferring data from said first computer to a remote location.

9. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 8, wherein said remote location processes said transferred data from said first computer and provides a result of said processing to said first computer over said large area network.

10. The system for monitoring exercise, according toclaim 1, wherein said local area network uses one of direct physical connections and wireless connections.

11. A method for monitoring an fitness machine comprising the steps of:

a) converting an machine parameter of said fitness machine into digital data; and

b) transferring said digital data over a local area network to a first computer.

12. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of transferring information from said first computer over said local area network to a user of said fitness machine.

13. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 12, wherein the transfer of information is the transfer of visual information.

14. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of receiving data manually entered by said user while in the area of said fitness machine and transferring said data over said local area network to said first computer.

15. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of measuring, at a location remote from any of said fitness machines, a physical parameter of a user, converting said physical parameter to digital data, and transferring said data over said local area network to a first computer.

16. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of monitoring a body parameter of a user of said fitness machine, wherein said body parameter may change when said user is using said fitness machine, converting said body parameter into digital data and transmitting said digital data to a first computer over said local area network.

17. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of transferring data over said local area network from said first computer to a second computer for viewing at said second computer data stored in said first computer and for entering data at said second computer which is then sent over said local area network to said first computer.

18. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of transferring data from said first computer over a large area network to a remote location.

19. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 18, including the additional step of processing at said remote location said data transferred from said first computer and providing a result of said processing to said first computer over said large area network.

20. The method for monitoring an fitness machine, according toclaim 11, including the additional step of transferring data over said local area network by one of direct connections and wireless connections.

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